Mother — Characters & Cast

To protect her son Do-joon at absolutely any cost, driven by guilt from a past attempt to kill him and herself.

Starts as a frantic, sympathetic figure trying to save her son against a corrupt system. Devolves into a ruthless protector who commits murder to cover up the truth, ending as a tragic figure who chooses willful amnesia over guilt.

To avoid being called 'retard' (pabo), which triggers his violent rage.

Appears as a helpless, childlike victim of a miscarriage of justice. It is revealed he is the killer, triggered by a specific insult, shattering the audience's perception of his innocence.

Money and loyalty (in that order).

Initially suspected by the mother of being the real killer or a bad influence. He proves to be a pragmatic, if mercenary, ally who helps the mother uncover the truth.

To tell the truth about what he saw.

A hermit who saw the truth. He becomes the innocent casualty of the mother's desperate need to bury the secret.